If you have been operating your business as a corporation but are now contemplating making the S Election, make sure you speak to a tax advisor about how the Built-in Gains Tax could potentially impact you.
As I discussed in the blog post "Is an S-Corporation Right for You?", an S corporation has all the traditional benefits of a C-Corporation (or what you typically think of as a corporation) including limited liability protection, but like a partnership the owners only have to pay income taxes on the distributed profits once.
The S Election could be made right after the business is incorporated, in which case you do not have to worry about the Built-in Gains Tax. However, the election can also be made years after the corporation has been formed. In that event, it is important that you understand when the Built-in Gains Tax is triggered and how it operates because it could impact the business decisions you would otherwise make.
The Built-in Gains Tax may also apply if an S-corporation ever acquires assets from a C-corporation in a tax-free transaction.
The purpose of the Built-in Gains Tax is to prevent the shareholders of a C-corporation from converting to an S-corporation with the intend of avoid the tax consequences that would otherwise apply in a liquidation. In other words, the Built-In Gains Tax is intended to prevent owners of a C-corporation from avoiding the taxes they would otherwise have to pay when shutting down or selling off all or part of their business by converting to an S-corporation.
Essentially, when converting to an S-corporation, the corporation must look at the assets it owned prior to the S Election taking effect and determine if those assets have appreciated in value (a formal appraisal is highly recommended). If they have, the amount of appreciation on each asset will be known as the net unrealized built-in gain. If the S-corporation then, within the applicable time period, sells that asset, the corporation (not the shareholders) must pay the Built-in Gains Tax, which is equal to the top marginal corporate tax rate (currently 35%), on the net unrealized built-in gain.
The applicable time period is currently 10 years, but shorter time periods apply to conversions that occurred in prior years. If the S Election took effect in 2009 or 2010, then the applicable time period is 7 years. If the S Election took effect in 2011, 2012, or 2013, the applicable time period is 5 years. It is always possible that new legislation will be enacted shortening the applicable time period again, so please talk to a trusted advisor if you are concerned about how the Built-in Gains Tax might affect you.
If you have questions about the Built-in Gains Tax, please send me an e-mail.
The Built-in Gains Tax may also apply if an S-corporation ever acquires assets from a C-corporation in a tax-free transaction.
The purpose of the Built-in Gains Tax is to prevent the shareholders of a C-corporation from converting to an S-corporation with the intend of avoid the tax consequences that would otherwise apply in a liquidation. In other words, the Built-In Gains Tax is intended to prevent owners of a C-corporation from avoiding the taxes they would otherwise have to pay when shutting down or selling off all or part of their business by converting to an S-corporation.
Essentially, when converting to an S-corporation, the corporation must look at the assets it owned prior to the S Election taking effect and determine if those assets have appreciated in value (a formal appraisal is highly recommended). If they have, the amount of appreciation on each asset will be known as the net unrealized built-in gain. If the S-corporation then, within the applicable time period, sells that asset, the corporation (not the shareholders) must pay the Built-in Gains Tax, which is equal to the top marginal corporate tax rate (currently 35%), on the net unrealized built-in gain.
The applicable time period is currently 10 years, but shorter time periods apply to conversions that occurred in prior years. If the S Election took effect in 2009 or 2010, then the applicable time period is 7 years. If the S Election took effect in 2011, 2012, or 2013, the applicable time period is 5 years. It is always possible that new legislation will be enacted shortening the applicable time period again, so please talk to a trusted advisor if you are concerned about how the Built-in Gains Tax might affect you.
If you have questions about the Built-in Gains Tax, please send me an e-mail.
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